Female labor force participation rate in Belgium
Belgium: Female labor force participation rate was 51.6% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Female labor force participation rate in Belgium, 1961–2025
Source: Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for female labor force participation rate in Belgium is 51.6%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 49 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.8% on the previous year and up 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, female labor force participation rate in Belgium peaked at 51.6% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 25.5%, in 1961.
That places Belgium 118th out of 194 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 49 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 25.5% | 25.5% | 25.5% | 1 |
| 1970s | 29.0% | 28.1% | 30.2% | 3 |
| 1980s | 34.9% | 28.5% | 36.9% | 9 |
| 1990s | 40.0% | 36.6% | 43.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 44.7% | 41.9% | 47.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 48.2% | 47.0% | 49.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.5% | 49.3% | 51.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Belgium
More work & labour data for Belgium
- Legislation on sexual harassment in employment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Criminal sanctions or compensation for workplace sexual harassment 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Women can take the same jobs as men 1 (1=yes; 0=no) (2023)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15+) 54.3% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) 59.0% (2025)
- Ratio of female to male labor force participation rate (%) 84.4% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 49.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, total (% of total population ages 15-6 71.0% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) 74.8% (2025)
- Labor force participation rate, female (% of female population ages 15 67.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is female labor force participation rate in Belgium?
- Female labor force participation rate in Belgium was 51.6% in 2025, according to Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest female labor force participation rate recorded in Belgium?
- The highest recorded value was 51.6% in 2025.
- What is the lowest female labor force participation rate recorded in Belgium?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.5% in 1961.
- How does Belgium rank for female labor force participation rate?
- Belgium ranks 118th out of 194 countries with data for 2025.
- Is female labor force participation rate rising or falling in Belgium?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Belgium data come from?
- The figures come from Labour Force Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Female labor force participation rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of the female working-age population who are economically active (employed or unemployed). Figures refer to national estimates and may not be fully comparable across countries.